Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2005-06: Phillips spent the majority of the year playing for the USA U-17 squad. Appearing in 38 games, Phillips posted a record of 21-14-3 with a goals against average of 2.39 and a save percentage of .922. He also recorded one shutout. He played all but one game at the 2006 World U-17 Hockey Challenge where he led Team USA to a silver medal. He was named the tournament's top goaltender. Phillips also appeared in one game with the U-18 squad. He allowed two goals as he picked up the win.

2006-07: Phillips split the season in nets with Josh Unice. In 24 games, Phillips posted a record of 15-5-0-2 with a goals against average of 2.33 and a save percentage of .913. He also had two shutouts. Eleven of his 24 games came against NCAA opponents. Phillips posted a winning record in these games, finishing with a record of 5-4-1 with a goals against average of 3.18 and a save percentage of .886. NHL Central Scouting ranked Phillips as the ninth best NA goalie heading into the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.2007-08: Phillips saw action in five games with the University of Notre Dame. He spent the season backing up Jordan Pearce in goal, and along with junior Tom O’Brien, he gave the Irish one of the top goaltending trios in the country. He went 4-1-0 on the season with a 1.53 goals against average and a .923 save percentage. He recorded one shutout on the season. He made his collegiate debut on Nov. 2 in a 4-1 win over Lake Superior, making 16 saves in the game. His first career shutout came in his third career start, as he made 24 saves in a 7-0 win at Princeton on Dec. 8. He is one of seven former USNTDP alums on the Notre Dame roster along with Pearce, junior Kyle Lawson, fellow sophomores Ian Cole and Teddy Ruth and freshmen Patrick Gaul and Sean Lorenz.

2008-09: Phillips missed the entire season due to a knee injury.

2009-10: Phillips appeared in 10 games as a junior as a back-up to Notre Dame starter Mike Johnson as the Fighting Irish finished ninth in the 12-team CCHA. Phillips was 2-3-3 with 1 shutout and had a 2.47 GAA and .911 save percentage.

2010-11: Phillips played for the Bloomington Prairie Thunder in the CHL, foregoing his senior year at Notre Dame. He appeared in 30 games as a backup to veteran Marco Emond and was 12-7-5 with a 2.38 GAA and .914 save percentage. The Prairie Thunder finished third in the Turner Division and Phillips appeared in three playoff games and was 0-2 with a 3.08 GAA and .894 save percentage.

After starting the season in the NHL with Pittsburgh, being re-assigned back to Charlottetown in the QMJHL and then returning to the pro ranks in the AHL for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins’ postseason run, Sprong is hoping he has learned enough about going through adversity and taking things in stride to make a run at the NHL next fall. Read more»

Photo: Washington Capitals prospect Stanislav Galiev spent most of the 2015-16 season with the big club, but as a healthy scratch. (courtesy David Hahn/Icon Sportswire)

The Washington Capitals season once again came to a premature end in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. That heartbreak could lead to NHL opportunities next season for a handful of prospects, including young winder Jakub Vrana.

A naturally-gifted Czech, Vrana highlights the Capitals end-of-season prospect awards, even though he dealt with a wrist injury and surgery this season. Read more»

Photo: Karpat Oulu forward and Carolina Hurricanes prospect Sebastian Aho (#16) turned in a strong 2015-16 season, winning gold at the U20 World Junior Championship and finishing among the top scorers in Liiga (courtesy of Karpat Oulu/Champions Hockey League via Getty Images)

If there was a theme to the season in Liiga in 2015-16 it can best be described by the old adage, “Youth shall be served.”

Much of the attention focused on 17-year-olds Patrik Laine and Jesse Puljujarvi — who barring any major surprises will be among the top three players picked in the 2016 NHL Draft. In terms of drafted forward prospects, three of their teammates on the gold medal champion U20 team also had big seasons and could be signing NHL contracts in the near future. Read more»

Photo: London Knights forward and Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Mitch Marner is currently the leading scorer at the 2016 MasterCard Memorial Cup Tournament, posting 13 points in just three games (courtesy of Rob Wallator/CHL Images)

Throughout this season, Prospect Impressions has been the home to a number of fantastic plays made by some of the brightest young hockey stars in the world. With last week’s special goaltending issue, we saw some of the best saves of the year. Now, it’s the skaters turn to strut their stuff.

In this first edition of a four-part series, we count down the Top 20 highlights of the season. Who do you think will end up number one? Read more»